Service Learning Project

Stepping into Fitness

                 

Grade Level:  5th

Number of Students Participating: 65

Contributed by: Woodfill Elementary School

Teacher: John Gesenhues

School:  Woodfill Elementary School

District or County: Ft. Thomas Independent School District

Overview/Description of Project:

The fourth grade class will be completing a project to promote health and fitness. As a service-learning project, the students will take ownership over the planning of the school’s annual 5k fun run. The students will work with PTO to plan the event, and their goal will be to raise awareness for child obesity in their school and community.

Goals:

•   The students will research and learn about the effects that physical activity has on their bodies.

•   Students will create a video that will be shown to the other classes as a way to educate other students about child obesity and the positive effects of physical fitness.

•   Students will participate in numerous activities in PE class to further enhance their knowledge of physical fitness.

•   Students will create and design fliers, T-shirts, course maps, and write letters to the community inviting them to participate.

•   They will help the teachers and PTO representatives collect the money from donations and entry fees.

Core Content Areas: (Our school standards and disciplines are aligned and identical to the common core standards.)

• PL-4-LPW-S-1 Students will identify likes and dislikes connected with participating in sports and physical activities; explain how physical activity provides opportunities for enjoyment, challenge, self-expression and social interaction
• PL-5-PW-S-PPH1 Students will explain the importance of assuming responsibility for personal health behaviors
• PL-5-PW-S-PPH3 Students will describe how individual behaviors and choices of diet, exercise and rest affect the body
• PL-5-PW-S-DP2 Students will demonstrate an understanding of how to maintain a healthy body by explaining how body systems work together (e.g., digestive, circulatory and respiratory systems)

Parc Model Step-By-Step-Guide 

Step 1 Preparation

How long will this project take?

2 Months

Start Date: March 1, 2013

End Date: May 1, 2013

How will the Classroom learning and activities be connected to the service?

1.)  Teachers and Students will need to meet with the principal and PTO members to talk about funding for this project, meet with city to see if we can map out a route, and any other business logistics. The students will present their idea at the PTO meeting and will take part in the discussion.

2.)  Students will need to prepare for this service-learning project by learning more about the effects of childhood obesity. The students will participate in lessons in their science classes and PE classes that will aim to educate the students on why there is Childhood Obesity and how this can affect their future as adults.

3.)  Students will then be placed into groups and will be assigned different classes in which they will be creating a short video that will educate the other classes on childhood obesity and the effects it can have on their future.

How will I engage the students in the planning process?

1.) Students will participate in an Art Contest in Art Class in which they will be designing T-shirt ideas. As a fifth grade class they will vote on the winner of the T-shirt Design.

2.) The Students will be writing letters that they will mail to five members of the community inviting them to run or walk in the event.

3.) The teacher will need to make sure to post the event on the district and city website. We want to invite all runners in the community to participate in this event.

4.)  Collect and count Money.

5.)  Students will help the teachers organize the race packets that will include the participant’s numbers and a fact sheet on childhood obesity that will be created by the students.

Step 2: Action:

•   Students will show their power points to their assigned classes.

•   5^th Graders will work with the morning news crew at our school to create a video commercial endorsing the 5k Event.

•   Students will lead community members, parents, and friends in warm-up activities and stretches that they learned in PE class and from their research.

•    Students will help to pass out race day packets at registration.

•    Students will be at mile markers passing out water.

•   Students will also be running or walking in the event.

Step 3: Reflection

Each student will write a reflection letter about the entire process. They will write the letter to their homeroom teacher and reflect on the entire process in which they participated. They will aim to reflect on the impact that it had on their life and on the lives of the community members. 

Step 4: Celebration/Demonstration:

1.) Students will hold a brief assembly to thank everyone for their participation.

2.)  Students will reveal the amount of money that was raised and will make a donation to the Community Parks Renovation Project that is aimed towards making our parks more accessible and promoting a more active lifestyle.